Fluid seal for rotary shafts



July 23, 1935. H, STElN 2,009,281

FLUID SEAL FOR ROTARY SHAFTS Filed Oct. 15, .1952 2 SheBCS-Sheeb l jj j July 23, 1935- al.. H. STEIN 2,009,281

FLUID SEAL FOR ROTARY SHAFTS Filed Oct. l5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jkfgja @J2 .Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES Louis H. Stein, Chicago, Ill.. assignor to Aetna Ball Bearing Manufacturing Company, Chii K cago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois applicati@ october 15,

Q 13 Claims.

My invention relates to the so-called rotary seals, that is, uid seals for rotary shafts. It is particularly designed as a liquid lubricant seal for shaftsin connection with the lubrication of rotary or ball bearings, although its use is not thus limited and it can be used for sealing against loss of other liquids or gases.

One feature of my invention is that the flexible sealing member is mounted to rotate while the seat remains stationary, and thus the rotary element may also serve the function of an oil slinger.

Another feature of my invention is a generation of a slight inward suction at the seal such that if there be any leakage it will be inward rather than outward, and consequently no oil or other fluid will be lost. I also provide means for preventing the ingress of dust or other foreign matter as a result of such slight inward suction at the seal.

A further object of my invention is simplicity in the design, economy of manufacture and ease of assembly of the rotary seal.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a simple seal structure which can be incorporated as a unit with the ball bearing or roller bearing assembly.

A still further object of my invention is concerned with the provision of a. stop for accurately controlling the position of the seal members axially of the shaft and housing.

The foregoing, together with further objects, features and advantages of my invention are set forth in the following description of specic embodiments of my invention as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a shaft, housing and ball bearing assembly embodying one form of my rotary seal;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective View of the several parts constituting the rotary seal;

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 'l and 8 are modied forms of the invention shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 9 and 10 are other modications wherein the ball bearing assembly and the rotary seal are made as a unit;

Fig. 11 shows a modification somewhat similar to Fig. 9 but showing an application to a roller bearing; and

Fig. 12 is another modification similar to Fig. 9 but in which the flexible rotary sealing member is mounted in a cut-out corner of the lower race.

In Fig. 1 the shaft S is journalled in the end of a housing H by the conventional ball bearing 1932, Serial No. 637,889

assembly B which consists of an inner race II on the shaft, the outer race I2 in the bore of the housing H and the balls I3 between the races.

The rotary seal assembly comprises in general a stationary seat ring I4 press-fitted into and carried by a mounting ring I5, and a rotarysealing member I4, in the form of a yielding washershaped disc or pressure plate, carried on the shaft. n

The seat ring I4, which may be formed from sheet metal, comprises a flat ring portion I1 which for convenience of assembly may, when positioned, come flush with the outer face VAof the retaining ring I5. At the outer edge of the hat portion I'I, the seat ring I4 carries an inwardly directed marginal flange I8 cylindrically formed for press t into the inner bore of the retainer ring I5. The inner edge of the flange I8 is rebent bead-like toward the axis of the ring I4 to form a convex annular seat I9.

The rotary sealing member or disc I6, which may be of leather, fiber, cork, composition felt or other suitable material, is reinforced by a yielding back plate 2D of spring metal having inwardly directed radial cuts about its periphery forming a multiplicity of individual spring lingers 2| which urge the margins of the leather sealing member I6 into sliding rotary contact with the smooth convex surface of the seat I9. The leather sealing member I 6 and its backing plate 20 are clamped together at the margins of their central openings by a hub 22. initially has an outer ange 23 and a cylindrical flange 24, as shown in Fig. 2. The sealing member I6 and the backing plate 2!) are slipped over the cylindrical ange 24 of the hub and then a spacing washer 25 is also slipped over the hub, whereupon the inner end of the cylindrical portion 24 is spun outwardly and over against the `adjacentface of thespacing washer 25, whereby the four parts of the rotary portion of the seal vare assembled as a unit. The central opening of the hub 22 is conformed to afford a press fit on the shaft. As here shown the shaft has a reduced portion extending outwardly from the bearing, leaving a shoulder 26. The hub 22 is pressed on to this reduced portion of the shaft until it abuts the shoulder 26. This locates the rotary member of the seal longitudinally of the shaft. seat ring I4 is positioned so that its outer face comes ush with the outer face of the retaining ring I5 which is secured to the housing H by cap screws 21 or otherwise to locate the seat relative to the housing. As shown in Fig. 1, this location As previously explained, the stationary The hubv of the rotary and stationary parts of the seal results in the leather sealing disc I6 being flexed against the resilience of the spring fingers 2| of the backing plate, and thereby a constant pressure on the seal is maintained. It is presupposed in Fig. 1 that the relation between the housing H and the shaft S in the parts of the machine or device not here shown will afford a reasonable limit of axial play of the shaft relative to the housing. If other parts of the machine do not afford this check on end play, reliance must be had upon the bearings and if desirable the ball bearings here shown may be of the type which is calculated to take a component of axial thrust. While the give of the flexible pressure plate or sealing disc I6, together with its backing plate, will take up reasonable end play of the shaft, the end play must be checked within reasonable limits in order to maintain a fairly unithe seal.

,form sealing pressure.

ing inaccuracies does not affect the operation of my rotary seal, because the eccentric movement of the rotary leather sealing member or ring I against the seat I9 merely serves to wipe the seat.

Any lubricant or other liquid tending to flow out of the end of the housing is necessarily brought in contact with the surfaces of the rotating sealing element with the result that it picks up the rotation of the sealing element and is subject to centrifugal force which thereupon throws the liquid outwardly away from the seal. The same action of centrifugal force in throwing away the liquid which might otherwise reach the seal is also true of gases. By far the greatest area closing the space between the shaft and the housing is the back face of the rotary element of Thus there is a greater opportunity for any fluid passing out toward the end of the housing to be set in rotation by the rotary seal element. Consequently the action of centrifugal force in keeping fluid away from the seal is much more effective than if the rotary seal element presented a lesser area to the escaping fluid.

Because any fluid approaching the region of seal is thrown away by the centrifugal force, there is a tendency of the centrifugally moved fluid to form a suction upon the seal region itself with the result that if there is any passage of fluid through the seal, it is a passage inwardly and not a loss outwardly. This more positively assures that there will be no liquid flow from the housing sealed by my rotary seal. In certain ins tallations this slight inward suction at the seal might tend to draw in dust or other foreign particles. To guard against this, the stationary seat ring I4 may conveniently support a conventional felt or cork washer which snugly fits about the periphery of the shaft. While the seal of 'this washer against the shaft would not be adequate to prevent the loss of liquid lubricant or other fluid, it is suillciently tight largely to prevent the ingress of dust or other foreign particles.

In the modification of Fig. 3, such an auxiliary cork dust ring 28 is shown. It is held on the inner side of the flat disc portion I1 of the seat ring by the innermost edge of the seat forming bead I9. In the modification of Fig. 3 I have eliminated the metal backing plate 2U and rely upon the inherent resiliency of the material of the rotary sealing member itself which for this purpose may preferably be of fiber. Such a construction is in general more applicable to higher speed shafts, whereas with lower speed shafts the more localized pressures of the individual spring fingers 2| are desirable for maintaining a perfect seal.

In the constructions of both Figs. 1 and 3 the flexible rotary sealing element or disc I6 is positioned with its outer margin bent out of a` plane normal to the axis of rotation. Thus when the shaft rotates, the centrifugal force to which the margin of the flexible sealing member itself is subjected tends Ito cause it to assume a at plane at a normal to the axis of revolution, which results in a pressure of the rotary sealing member against the stationary seat. This pressure is a factor in addition to the normal resiliency of -the rotary sealing disc and the added pressure of the backing plate. If the iluidwithin the housing is at a pressure greater than atmosphere, the area of the flexible sealing member I6 is subject to that pressure also which results in considerable additional force tending to hold the seal closed, -thus offering a fourth sealpressing factor. f

In Fig. 4 I have shown a construction similar to that of Fig. 1 except that the hub carries a channel-shaped extension 22' which loosely embraces the margins of the central opening of the flat face portion I1 of the seat ring I4. 'I'his affords a means of loosely holding the retaining ring I5, the ring seat I4 and the rotary seal `member I6 together for shipment and handling as a unit. When in operation, the outer transversely disposed flange of the channel-shaped extension 22 serves by centrifugal force to throw out any major particles of foreign matter which might otherwise be sucked inwardly toward the seal.

The modiflcation shown in Fig. 5 is like that shown in Fig. 1 except that the seat ring is differently constructed, the seat forming bead I9 being formed in the outer flange of the seat ring rather than as an inner flange. Also, in Fig. 5 the hub 22 does not directly abut the shoulder 26 of the shaft, but instead the inner race II embraces the reduced portion of the shaft and its inner edge contacts the shoulder 26. 'I'he 4 hub 22 is pressed ytoward the shoulder 26 but spaced by the race II and an auxiliary spacing washer 29 (which, if convenient, could be an integral extension of the inner race Il).

InlFig. 6 the generally channel-shaped stationary seat ring is reversed from the arrangement shown in Fig. l, in that the short flange is outermost and the long flange innermost and the roltary sealing member rides against `the inner face of the short flange. Thus the long flange I'Ia acts as a partition between the ball bearings and the rotary seal member I6 and the short seat forming flange I9a extends over the margin of the latter. In manufacture, the flange I9a may be spun down af-ter the rotary seal member I6 is positioned within the stationary seat ring. The rotary and stationary units are thus loosely assembled in advance of incorporating them in a shaft and housing assembly.

Fig. 7 shows an arrangement similar to Fig. 6 except that the seat forming flange I9b is slightly beaded to present a convex seating surface. Also, in Fig. 7 a spacing sleeve 29' definitely locates the hub 22.

In Fig. 8 I have dispensed with the separate retaining ring I5 and instead, for the seat ring, I use a sheet metal disc apertured for the shaft, which is flat except for a seat forming bead I9c. The seat ring Mc extends beyond the opening in the housing H and itself is directly mounted to the housing by screws 21e. In Fig. 8 the hub 22 is positioned by directly abutting -the inner race Il which in turn abuts the shoulder 26 of the shaft, This is a more economical design to manufacture because of the elimination of the separate ring l and because the .seat ring Mc is somewhat easier to form.

In Fig. 9 the seat ring Idd is enlarged into a shell which embraces the outer edges of the outer race I2, and the hub 22d is similarly enlarged into a shell which embraces the inner edges o1' the inner race Il. In this instance the seat ring I4d is not mounted on the housing by means of a retaining ring, but is directly t-ted into-the bore of the housing H along with the outer race I2. The advantage of the construction of Fig. 12 over those previously described is that the ball bearing assembly and the rotary seal assembly are made a unit.

Fig. shows a construction similar to that of Fig. 9 except that the hub 22e instead of being a separate member, is a turned-over cylindrical extension of the inner race Ile.

Fig. l1 shows a construction similar to Fig. 9 except that it is applied to the instance of a roller bearing.

Fig. l2 shows a construction similar to that of Fig. 9 except that the vouter flange of the hub 22 ,f instead of being offset with the yielding material of the rotary seal member between it and the inner race, is turned over a corner of the lower race itself. The leather and back plate constituting the rotary member of the seal are set against a shoulder 30! formed in the lower race Hf and are there retained by an extension of the flange 22f. This construction makes it more feasible, in embracing the inner race with the shell, to complete the assembly by forming the flange 22,! rst and the offset flange 3If last.

While I have disclosed these specific embodiments of my invention, I contemplate that many changes and rearrangements may ybe made without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with a hollow housing and a rotary shaft extending therethrough, of a seal between the housing and shaft comprising a rotary pressure plate carried by and sealed to the shaft and presenting an outwardly facing annular sealing surface and a stationary member of sheet metal formed in annular channelshaped form surrounding the shaft with its web portion cylindrically conformed and its inner flange beaded to present a convex annular sealing surface engaging with said surface of the pressure plate, the housing having a cylindrical bore portion for receiving the cylindrical web of the stationary member to support it and seal it to the housing.

2. The combination with a hollow housing and a rotary shaft extending therethrough, of a seal between the housing and shaft comprising` a rotary pressure plate carried by and sealed to the shaft and presenting an outwardly facing annular sealing surface and a stationary member of sheet metal .formed in annular channelshaped form surrounding the shaft with its web the stationary member to support it and seal it to the housing.

' 3. The combination with a hollow housing and a rotary shaft extending therethrough, of a rotary seal between the housing and shaft com'- prising a rotary pressure plate carried by and sealed to the shaft and presenting an outwardly facing annular sealing surface and a stationary member of sheet metal formed in annular channel-shaped form surrounding the shaft with its web portion cylindrically conformed and one ofy its flanges beaded to present a convex annular sealing surface in engagement with said surface of the pressure plate, the housing having a cylindrical bore portion for receiving the cylindrical web of the stationary member to support it and seal it to the housing.

4. A rotary seal comprising a stationary member adapted to be supported by and sealed to a housing and comprising an annular ring channel shaped in radial section with a cylindrical web and inwardly extending flanges, one of said flanges being inwardly beaded to present an annular seat, and a resilient pressure ring presenting an annular face of resilient material for rotary sealing engagement with the plate and a hub embracing the pressure ring at its inner margin for mounting the pressure ring upon and sealing it to a rotary shaft extending through the housing, the outer margin of the pressure ring being embraced by said flanges whereby the pressure ring and stationary member are loosely assembled together.

5.v The combination with a housing and a shaft extending therethrough, of a rotary seal between the shaft and housing comprising a stationary member carried by the housing and presenting an annular seat, a pressure ring carried by and sealed to the shaft and having an annular surface resiliently contacting the seat, the pressure ring constituting a fluid slinger for throwing fluid from within the housing away from the sealing region, whereby centrifugal force tends to create a suction at the seal region, and a second rotary seal between the housing and shaft and posterior to said first mentioned seal for preventing the ingress of dust particles through said flrst mentioned rotary seal.

6. The combination with a housing and a rotary shaft passing therethrough, of a rotary seal therefor comprising a resilient pressure ring surrounding and carried by and sealed to the shaft, and a stationary member formed of sheet metal and comprising an annular plate portion sur,

rounding the shaft and disposed in a plane at a normal to the axis of the shaft, and a marginal flange extending toward the interior of the housing and radially inwardly rebent to form an annular convex seat for sealing engagement with and sealing to a rotary shaft extending throughk the housing, the stationary member comprising an annular plate with a rearwardly and inwardly rebent flange at its outer margin presenting a convex annular seat and the pressure plate comprising a resilient annular ring presenting a face of resilient material for sealing engagement with the seat and a hub tightly embracing the inner -marginl of the pressure ring to mount it on the shaft, the hub also loosely embracing the inner margin of the stationary plate for loosely assembling the stationary member with the rotary pressure plate.

8. The combination with a. hollow housing having an end opening and a rotary shaft extending therethrough ofA a rotary seal between the housing and shaft comprising an annular plate presenting an inwardly facing seat in a plane at a normal to the axis of the shaft and convexed in radial section, attachment means radially beyond the seat for securing the plate to the housing and sealing it thereto. and a rotary pressure ring secured at its inner margin to the shaft and fixedly sealed thereto, the pressure ring presenting a face of resilient material for rotary sealing engagement with the seat.

9. In combination with an oil-containing housing having a rotary shaft journaled therein and extending outwardly therefrom through an opening in one end thereof, a rotary seal which, with the shaft, closes said opening, said seal comprising a non-rotating element fixed to the housing and presenting an inwardly facing annular seat of convexed radial section in a plane at right angles to the axis of the shaft, and a rotary element in the nature of an annular member fixedly encircling and sealed to the shaft and resiliently pressing outwardly against said seat with a rotary contact.

10. The combination with a stationary hollow housing and a rotary shaft extending therethrough and therebeyond, of a fluid seal between the housing and shaft, comprising a stationary seat member presenting an annular seat disposed in a plane at a normal to the axis of the shaft and convexed in radial section, and a sealing disc carried by, and surrounding the shaft and having a hub portion iixedly sealed to the shaft, an annular face of the yielding material radially beyond the hub portion contacting the seat and rotatably slidable thereagainst, the disc being centrally dished out of a plane away from the interior of the housing whereby in tending to straighten under centrifugal force it is pressed against the seat, the seat member being fixedly sealed to the housing radially beyond the seat.

11. The combination with a hollow uid-containing housing 'and a shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending therefrom, of a fluid seal between the shaft and housing, comprising a stationary annular member formed from sheet metal stock and having an inwardly facing annular seat and radially vtherebeyond a cylindrically conformed portion for a drive fit on the housing for mounting the member on the housing and sealing it thereto, and a normally fiat and washer-shaped composite pressure plate comprising a facing of fibrous material, a backing plate of sheet spring metal radially slit inwardly from its periphery and lying against the fibrous material, and a hub formed from sheet material of channel-shaped cross section, the flanges of the channel engaging the respective faces of the brous material and the backing plate to clamp them together at their central openings, the hub having its inner surface conformed for a drive t on the shaft to mount the composite pressure plate on the shaft and to seal it thereto, the facing slidably contacting the seat adjacent the outer margin of the pressure plate and radially intermediate said drive iits, the outer margins of the pressure plate being flexed backwardly toward' the u interior of the housing to maintain a yielding pressure on the face against the seat.

12. The combination with a fluid-containing housing and a shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending therefrom, of a liquid seal between the shaft and housing comprising a stationary member presenting an inwardly facing annular seat and a cylindrically conformed mounting surface for a drive iit with the housing xedly to seal the stationary member to the housing, and a rotary member of washer shape mounted on and surrounding the shaft and fixedly sealed thereto, the rotary member being of composite construction, including a flexiblesheet of softer material than the seat and a dishedly mounted peripherally expansible spring metal backing plate therefor, the sheet near its periphery rotatably annularly engaging the seat to form a rotary seal radially intermediate the shaft and drive fit portion of the stationary member.

13. The combination with a fixed housing and a shaft protruding therefrom, of a-xed seal presenting an inwardly facing annular seat and having, radially beyond the seat, a cylindrically conformed exterior surface portion, a mating cylindrical portion in the housing constituting a press fit therewith, and a rotary seal member surrounding and sealed to the shaft and radially beyond the shaft forming a rotary sealing contact with the seat.

LOUIS H; STEIN. 

